Michael Sweet ponders why fans pay top dollar for “rock stars” who don’t care how they sound, look & play

Michael Sweet ponders why fans pay top dollar for “rock stars” who don’t care how they sound, look & play

It must be frustrating for an ’80s era artist or musician that has seemingly gotten better with time to watch some of his ’80s contemporaries continue to thrive and obtain “top dollar” from their fans despite clearly having lost their abilities and seemingly not caring about how they sound, look and/or play.

It appears that Stryper frontman Michael Sweet might be referring to Mötley Crüe lead vocalist Vince Neil, whose voice “was fucking gone” towards the end of his first concert back since the advent of the Covid pandemic in or about March 2020 and whose second concert back (on June 18, 2021) was cancelled for reasons that were not outlined publicly.

The following message was posted on Sweet‘s Facebook page earlier today:

“I’ve never understood how certain bands can achieve the success that they have and continue to thrive when they they could absolutely care less! Or they’ve lost their abilities all together. Why do people/fans continue to pay top dollar for “rock stars” who don’t care enough to sound good, look good, play good? Such a mystery to me.

Imagine if you went to a baseball game or a football game and the pitcher and or quarterback came out and couldn’t perform at all. Would that fly in the sports world? Of course not! Why is that acceptable in the music world? Bands who can’t sing, can’t play and who have let themselves go physically yet fans continue to lay their hard earned money out to see these bands over and over again. Or, bands/performers who just don’t care anymore and have no intention of even trying to give the fans their money’s worth. I’ll never understand it. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

I guess I’m speaking as a fan myself. When I see a band that I like and they obviously don’t care enough to give their best, that’s it for me. I won’t learn the hard way. Once is all it takes for me. I can’t imagine all the people who are going to spend so much money on a supposed “rock stars” who are just taking the money and laughing all the way to the bank. This is our craft and we work our butts off to bring you a good set/show. The day we don’t is the day we retire! We will always give you your moneys worth or at least try our best to do so.

Do you agree? Is this something that bothers you? What say you??”

Sleaze Roxx stated the following in its review of Stryper‘s last studio album Even The Devil Believes (which finished at #2 on the Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of 2020 and #1 on the Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 20 Albums of 2020) and in particular Sweet‘s vocal abilities:

“Some reviews write themselves and this is one of them. While most hard rock and heavy metal bands from the ’80s era are never able to replicate, duplicate or even match their output from that golden period, one band in particular has been able to arguably match, if not top its output from that era. Christian rockers Stryper led by their indefatigable frontman Michael Sweet have actually gotten better over time adopting a heavier sound while still pumping out melodic rockers filled with piercing guitar solos and topped with one of the best voices in rock n’ roll.”

Stryper‘s “Soldiers Under Command” video (from Soldiers Under Command album released in 1985):

Stryper‘s “Do Unto Others” video (from Even The Devil Believes album released in 2020):